Filed to story: Submitting to My Bestie’s Daddy Read Online >>???
But I was too frustrated to turn back. I needed to cool down before I said something I regretted.
I had only made it to the hallway when a hand on my elbow pulled me back.
“Hey,” Alessandro said awkwardly.
I raised an eyebrow at him, unsure of what he wanted. “Look, I know how frustrating it is, but your parents worked hard to get you and themselves out of that life. They’re a bit touchy on that subject.”
“Their decisions shouldn’t impact me, especially since I’m a grown-ass adult,” I bit back.
“I know. Sometimes it just gets into you.” He chuckled, and I could feel somehow that he really understood where I was coming from. “Look, if you ever want, there’s a place for you in Italy, in our family. I could always use an extra hand.”
Surprised, I thanked him, and he headed back to the room with the kids, leaving me in the hallway to think. Was that really something I wanted… to officially join the mafia?
But that wasn’t the only surprise of the night.
As soon as I entered the living room, I spotted a flash of bright red, and I looked up instinctively. There was Cat, but she wasn’t dressed in the jeans and T-shirt I had last seen her in. Instead, she wore a bright long-sleeved red dress that came to mid-thigh with a detailed white lace over the bare shoulders and white stripes along the bottom. It was simple but gorgeous on her body.
Surrounded by a group of relatives, her cheeks were a bright pink as they showered praises upon her.
With her hair braided into a long plait over her shoulder, she was nothing short of the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. My fingers brushed against the small box in my pocket.
Cat spotted me then and gazed at me, her green eyes shining with the lights from the Christmas tree.
“Doesn’t she look lovely?” my mom asked. “I saw that in the store and thought of Cat.”
“She looks beautiful,” I said honestly.
I smiled and brushed by her, whispering, “Meet me in the hallway.”
I saw the slightest hint of a nod, and when everyone’s attention had turned away, I stepped over to the hallway to wait for her. Moments later she appeared, and I led her down the hallway, ducking into the office quickly.
“I don’t know if it’ll match your new outfit, but here you go.” I handed her the simple black box.
The moment she lifted the lid, her breath hitched.
Inside was a silver necklace, a locket decorated with diamonds, and at the center, a bright green gemstone. I bit my bottom lip, unsure of how this was going to go as she opened it. I knew what it said on the inscription.
“Happy birthday, Kitty-Cat.”
Her voice choked as she recited the words engraved inside. “I love you always… Daddy.”
She looked at me, confused.
“Tallon and I, we managed to track it down. It was the last present Vinny, your dad, bought. He wanted to give it to you for Christmas, but he didn’t… get the chance. It wasn’t easy to get it back. He hid it pretty well. But I thought you should have it.”
“Elio,” she murmured.
I watched in a full moment of panic as her eyes flooded with tears.
“I’m so sorry! This was stupid. I shouldn’t have—”
But she surprised me yet again by jumping into my arms.
She didn’t say a single word, but I could feel her body trembling and I wrapped her in my arms, holding her together during this painful and bittersweet moment.
“I didn’t get you a gift,” she murmured in my shirt.
“That’s okay.” I chuckled, gently lifting her head so I could see her pretty face. “You can always make it up to me.”
She blushed, but without any hesitation, she leaned up and pulled me into a passionate kiss. I lost myself for a moment, so focused on her that neither of us heard the door opening and we didn’t have time to pull away.
“I thought so.” A loud voice cut through our moment.
Shocked, we jumped apart, glancing at the intruder with wide eyes.
“Mom?” I asked wide-eyed.
And there stood my mother with crossed arms and raised eyebrows, clearly expecting an explanation.
*Caterina*
“Mom?”
Elio’s shocked and dismayed voice had shocked me back to reality.
The moment I realized what had happened, I took several steps away, my arms pulled tightly behind my back as I immediately stared at the floor in sheer embarrassment, gazing at the pretty red heels Olivia had generously let me borrow. The skirt of the brand-new dress she’d insisted on putting on me fluttered around my thighs.
What the fuck had we been doing?
I clutched the box containing the heartfelt present like a string pulling me back down to the earth. I couldn’t believe I’d been making out with Elio in his parents’ house… in his dad’s office.
And worst of all, we’d gotten caught by his mother.
I bit my bottom lip, my face burning in shame. The only way it could have been more humiliating was if she’d caught us without any clothes on. Thank God for that small mercy, but this wasn’t great either.
Olivia had always been so kind to me. She was like a mother figure to me, only a bit older than my own mom, and there I was making out with her son during the Christmas party she’d been so gracious to invite me to.
I glanced up at Elio, feeling even worse to see the awkward look on his face. He made eye contact with me and then his mom, and I saw the resolution in his eyes. He put on a casual, charming smile, the same one he used when trying to mediate fights between me and my mother.
He stepped in front of me, his shadow falling over me as he hid me behind his back like the coward I was. I clenched my fists, hating myself for being protected and not brave enough to face Olivia right now.
“Mom,” Elio said awkwardly. “It’s not what you think—”
“Don’t even try that with me,” Olivia said cooly. “Front and center, both of you. Now.”
“Mom—”
My hands trembled, wondering if I was going to be faced with her anger, or worse, her disappointment. But I grit my teeth, kept my head up, and stepped out from behind Elio’s back, standing even with him as I faced the consequences of our actions.
“It’s really not a big deal, Mom.”
Elio tried to smooth it over, and I stiffened as his hand slithered around mine, gripping tightly. It was both comforting and terrifying.
“Mmhmm,” Olivia said, eyeing our hands like a hawk. “So, how long have you been dating?”